Ken Starr Leaves Faculty Post at Baylor University

WACO, Texas (CN) – Former Baylor University president and chancellor Ken Starr quit his law school faculty position Friday, severing his final ties with the college in the wake of a damning review of how school officials bungled sexual assault complaints. Baylor said Starr’s departure is a “mutually agreed separation” that comes with Starr’s “greatest respect and love” for the school. “Baylor wishes Judge Ken Starr well in his future endeavors,” Baylor said in a written statement. “Judge Starr expresses his thanks to the Baylor family for the opportunity to serve as president and chancellor and is grateful for his time with the exceptional students of Baylor University who will lead and serve around the world. Starr was removed as school president in May after Philadelphia-based law firm Pepper Hamilton released the findings of a months-long external review into the school’s handing of rape complaints, particularly those against football players. Ordered by Baylor’s Board of Regents in August 2015 as the rape cases mounted, Pepper Hamilton’s study concluded that administrators “directly discouraged” some complainants from reporting a sexual assault and in one case retaliated against a complainant for reporting. “In addition to broader University failings, Pepper found specific failings within both the football program and Athletics department leadership, including a failure to identify and respond to a pattern of sexual violence by a football player and to a report of dating violence,” the board said at the time. “There are significant concerns about the tone and culture within Baylor’s football program as it relates to accountability for all forms of student athlete misconduct.” Starr later stepped down as chancellor “as a matter of conscience” and intended to remain as a law school faculty member. Former head football coach Art Briles was ultimately fired and former athletic director Ian McCar later resigned after being suspended. Baylor is currently facing several Title IX lawsuits from female students who claim administrators failed to appropriately respond to their rape claims. It is trying to settle a lawsuit filed in April by former student Jasmin Hernandez, who claims school counselors told her they were “too busy” to see her after a rape by former football player Tevin Elliott. Elliott was sentenced in January 2014 to 20 years in state prison on each of two counts of sexual assault. Three former female students made similar claims in a federal lawsuit they filed in June.